'Impossible' for Arsenal's Van Persie to join City

Dutch star's father rules out move to Etihad or Spain

Robin van Persie's father has insisted it would be "impossible" for the Arsenal striker to join their Premier League rivals Manchester City.

The Gunners fear striker Van Persie will not sign a new deal, but are prepared to hold him to the final year of his contract rather than sell.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger does not want to see his star striker depart, but the club risk Van Persie to leaving for nothing when his deal expires next summer if he does not agree a new one in the meantime.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis confirmed discussions had taken place at the end of the season and insisted the north London club would not be rushed into making any announcement on Van Persie's future.

Now the Arsenal skipper's father, Bob, has ruled out the possibility of a switch to the Etihad and also moved to quell suggestions his son could move to Spain.

"He'd never go to Manchester City as it's impossible he would play for another Premier League side that wasn't Arsenal," Bob van Persie is quoted as saying by El Mundo Deportivo.

"It would make no sense to go to Barcelona when they've already got Leo Messi.

"Real Madrid would be a good option, but they are not so much a team as a collection of star names, so he wouldn't really fit in there either."

However, in the same way the sold Cesc Fabregas and Sami Nasri last summer, they will move him on if it becomes clear the Dutchman is willing to force the issue.

Juventus and Manchester City are leading the chase, while Real Madrid are also watching developments.

However, only the Italians can offer a clear escape route.

City are committed to selling before they buy and are ready to offload Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez, while Real need to cash in on Gonzalo Higuain before they can go shopping.

Juve are ready to offer £25million-plus and want Van Persie as a stellar signing as they prepare to return to the Champions League as Italian champions, but they will not match the personal terms of above £200,000-a-week that City can pay, according to the Mirror.

It leaves Van Persie in a difficult situation after becoming frustrated at his failure to win trophies.

Van Persie will hold the key to his future when he returns to Arsenal after the Euros.